Diablo 4 Season 9 Class Tier List

Season 9 of Diablo 4 is right around the corner, and the recent PTR (Public Test Realm) for patch 2.3.0 gave players a sneak peek at balance changes, new mechanics, and class reworks. With the test window officially closed, theorycrafters and hardcore grinders have already started locking in their main classes. If you’re wondering which class to play for maximum impact—whether in solo PvE, group content, or PvP—this Season 9 tier list will help you choose wisely. (You may want to read our Diablo 4 Season 9 Best Builds)

Let’s break down the classes based on current performance, community feedback, and overall synergy with Season 9’s new features: Horadric Spells, Escalating Nightmares, and Strongrooms.

S-Tier: Sorcerer & Spiritborn

Sorcerer
Why it’s top tier: Sorcerers are back on top thanks to buffs to elemental skills and survivability options. The new Horadric Spell system heavily favors high-output spellcasters, and Sorc players are abusing Teleport + Chain Lightning with insane efficiency.

Best Build: Lightning Arc Sorcerer with defensive enchantments and mana regen.

Pros:

• Extremely high AoE and boss damage

• Great mobility

• Scales perfectly with Season 9 modifiers

Cons:

• Still fragile without defensive stacking

Spiritborn
Why it’s top tier: Spiritborn surprised many with incredible synergy across all Season 9 mechanics. Their innate adaptability, fast-paced melee combos, and unique Spirit Magic interactions make them a perfect fit for Strongroom farming and Nightmare clears.

Best Build: Lunar Fang Spiritborn with spectral dashes and crit stacking.

Pros:

• High burst and sustained melee DPS

• Exceptional scaling with Horadric Spell slots

• Built-in mobility and crowd control

Cons:

• Takes practice to optimize combo windows

A-Tier: Druid & Barbarian

Druid

Why it’s strong: Druid continues to benefit from strong shapeshifting and elemental hybrid builds. The new artifact system allows Werebear tanks to run double utility and DPS setups without losing bulk.

Best Build: Storm Claw Shifter with Companions for layering damage over time.

Pros:

• Hybrid versatility

• Can solo or group effectively

• Excellent synergy with Strongroom bonuses

Cons:

• Requires well-rolled gear to shine

Barbarian

Why it’s strong: Barb’s performance skyrocketed with damage boosts to Bleed and Weapon Mastery builds. Shouts are still core, and a well-built Barb is one of the tankiest units in the game.

Best Build: Bleed Barb with Weapon Expertise and Leapquake utility.

Pros:

• Great survivability

• Smooth scaling into nightmare content

• Good for group tank or solo farm

Cons:

• Can be clunky early on

B-Tier: Rogue & Necromancer

Rogue

Why it’s decent: Rogue didn’t get nerfed, but it also didn’t receive huge boosts. Still fun to play with momentum-heavy builds and traps. Great pick for players who enjoy fast-paced gameplay.

Best Build: Penetrating Shot with trap and poison synergy.

Pros:

• Excellent mobility

• Strong PvP potential

• Burst DPS on elites

Cons:

• Struggles with AoE farming

• Not beginner-friendly

Necromancer

Why it dropped: Necro is still viable, especially for summoner lovers, but minions feel a bit underwhelming in Nightmare dungeons. Bone Spear builds got toned down, leaving fewer top-tier options.

Best Build: Shadow DoT Necro or Minion hybrid with self-buffs.

Pros:

• High sustain

• Safe playstyle

• Works well with Escalating Nightmares

Cons:

• Lower burst potential

• Needs setup time

C-Tier: Seasonal Wildcard Builds

With Horadric Spells, off-meta builds might shine unexpectedly as more synergies are discovered. PTR data isn’t final, and hidden combos (like using cooldown abuse with crafted artifacts) could shake up the tier list.

Some community favorites:

• Flame Imp Sorc with Burn stacking

• Werewolf Druid poison ramp

• Shadow Traps Rogue with cooldown reset

Keep an eye on these creative setups once the season goes live.

Final Thoughts

Diablo 4’s Season 9 meta is shaping up to be more flexible than ever thanks to the Horadric customization and artifact freedom. While Sorcerer currently holds the crown, Druid and Barbarian are not far behind. Rogue and Necro fans may need to adapt, but creative players will always find a way to break the mold.

Want a head start? Don’t waste time grinding low-tier gear—grab some cheap Diablo 4 items at SSEGold and jump into the new season fully prepared.

See you in the nightmares, Unfallen!